The Dallas Cowboys have struggled mightily this season, and their poor performance hasn’t gone unnoticed—even at the CMA Music Awards. On Wednesday night, the Cowboys became the butt of a joke delivered by none other than Peyton Manning, who was co-hosting the event.
Manning, a Hall of Fame quarterback known for his charisma and sense of humor, shared the stage with country music stars Luke Bryan and Lainey Wilson as they hosted the awards show. Manning, who is no stranger to entertaining crowds, took the opportunity to poke fun at the Cowboys and their owner, Jerry Jones, during his opening monologue.
While introducing Kelsea Ballerini’s album titled “Cowboys Cry Too,” Manning couldn’t resist taking a jab at the struggling NFL team. “This is the year we discovered that Cowboys Cry Too,” Manning quipped. He then delivered the punchline, adding, “But enough about Jerry Jones.”
The joke drew laughs from the audience, but for Cowboys fans, it was a reminder of just how disappointing the season has been thus far. Manning’s dig at Jones and the Cowboys has since gone viral, with many fans sharing clips of the moment and discussing it on social media. As of yet, Jerry Jones has not responded to Manning’s jab, and it’s unclear if he will. After all, it’s hard to come up with a comeback when your team’s record speaks for itself.
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The Cowboys have been in a downward spiral over the past few weeks, with their latest embarrassment coming in the form of a blowout loss at home to the Houston Texans. Their last victory came back on October 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and since then, they’ve struggled to find any semblance of consistency on the field.
Despite the mounting losses and the growing frustration among the fanbase, Jerry Jones remains steadfast in his belief that the team can turn things around. Earlier this week, Jones addressed the media, refusing to hit the panic button.
“We won one game my first year,” Jones said on Monday. “One. And so have we had rough seasons? Yes. Yeah, I’ve been around. Certainly, we have. And we’ve had other tough years. And this one, we didn’t anticipate the record. And the way we’re playing right now, we wouldn’t have anticipated that. But, not, this isn’t—y’all have heard me tell these old stories until you’re sick—but not, you stay in this league long enough, you’ll have times like this.”
Jones’ comments reflect his resilience and long-term perspective as an owner, but for many Cowboys fans, patience is running thin. The team entered the season with high expectations, and the recent stretch of poor play has been difficult to stomach.
The Cowboys have dealt with injuries and underperformance from key players, and their once-promising season has taken a sharp downturn.
This Sunday, the Cowboys will have a chance to right the ship when they take on the Washington Commanders. It will be an opportunity for the team to stop the bleeding and get back into the win column, though it won’t be an easy task given their recent form.
For now, all eyes are on whether the Cowboys can muster a response and put Manning’s joke—and their recent struggles—behind them.
As for Peyton Manning, his reputation as a master of humor and timing remains intact.
The former Colts and Broncos quarterback has never shied away from the spotlight, and his appearance at the CMA Music Awards was yet another example of his ability to entertain—whether he’s on the field, in the broadcast booth, or hosting a country music show.
For Cowboys fans, however, Manning’s joke is a stinging reminder that their team has a lot of work to do to regain respectability.
